Faculty of Sport Sciences and Physical Education, University of Coimbra , Coimbra , Portugal.
National Centre for Sports and Exercise Medicine, Loughborough University , Loughborough , UK.
Front Public Health. 2016 Jun 27;4:133. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2016.00133. eCollection 2016.
Physical activity (PA) in elders has been shown to have positive effects on a plethora of chronic diseases and to improve immunity, mental health, and cognition. Chronic stress has also been shown to have immuno-suppressive effects and to accelerate immunosenescence. Exercise could be a significant factor in ameliorating the deleterious effects of chronic stress, but variables such as the type, intensity, and frequency of exercise that should be performed in order to effectively reduce the stress burden need to be defined clearly. PRO-HMECSI will allow us to investigate which hormonal and immunological parameters are able to mediate the effects of exercise on mucosal immunity, psychological/biological stress, and cognitive functioning in older people. Phase I consists of an observational cross-sectional study that compares elders groups (n = 223, >65 years) by functional fitness levels aiming to identify biomarkers involved in maintaining immune and mental health. Neuroendocrine and immune biomarkers of stress, psychological well-being related to mental health, neurocognitive function, functional fitness, and daily PA will be evaluated. Phase II consists of a 28-week intervention in elders with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) profile (n = 149, >65 years, divided in three groups of exercise and one control group), aiming to investigate whether the positive effect of three different types of chair-based exercise programs on physical and psychological health is mediated by an optimal endocrine environment. Primary outcomes are measures of cognitive function and global health. Secondary outcomes include the evaluation the other dimensions such as immune function, psychological health, and depression. Few studies addressed the effects of different types of exercise interventions in older population samples with MCI. We will also be able to determine which type of exercise is more effective in the immune and hormonal function of this population.
身体活动（PA）已被证明对多种慢性疾病有积极影响，并能改善免疫、心理健康和认知能力。慢性应激也被证明具有免疫抑制作用，并加速免疫衰老。运动可能是改善慢性应激不良影响的重要因素，但需要明确为了有效减轻压力负担，应该进行哪种类型、强度和频率的运动等变量。PRO-HMECSI 将使我们能够研究哪些激素和免疫参数能够介导运动对老年人粘膜免疫、心理/生物学应激和认知功能的影响。第一阶段包括一项观察性横断面研究，该研究比较了功能健身水平不同的老年人组（n=223，>65 岁），旨在确定参与维持免疫和心理健康的生物标志物。将评估应激的神经内分泌和免疫生物标志物、与心理健康相关的心理幸福感、神经认知功能、功能健身和日常身体活动。第二阶段包括对轻度认知障碍（MCI）患者（n=149，>65 岁，分为三组运动组和一组对照组）进行 28 周的干预，旨在研究三种不同类型的基于椅子的运动方案对身体和心理健康的积极影响是否通过优化的内分泌环境来介导。主要结果是认知功能和整体健康的测量。次要结果包括评估免疫功能、心理健康和抑郁等其他方面。很少有研究涉及不同类型的运动干预对 MCI 老年人群样本的影响。我们还将能够确定哪种类型的运动对该人群的免疫和激素功能更有效。
